Creative Quilt Backs

Make the back of your quilt as pretty and interesting as the front with easy ideas from this free mini-class by renowned quilter Elizabeth Hartman.

Finish your quilt with a flourish by creating a back that's worthy of the front. Renowned modern quilter Elizabeth Hartman shows you a variety of easy ways to echo or complement your quilt's design using large prints, strips, blocks or patchwork. Whatever your quilting style, you're sure to find inspiration in this free mini-class.

Lesson 2. Introduction

Lesson 3. Quilt Back Math

Figure out how best to stack and back your quilt in this comprehensive lesson. Elizabeth goes step by step through the math needed to calculate the correct yardage.

14:52

Lesson 4. Using Large-Scale Prints

Your quilt's back is the perfect place to show off large-scale prints to their best effect. Elizabeth helps you figure out how to calculate and assemble your back — and match prints for the wow factor.

18:15

Lesson 5. Adding a Pieced Strip

A pieced strip echoes the colors and design of the top and can be a lifesaver if you find yourself just a little short of backing fabric. Calculate the most pleasing combinations, size the pieces and stitch them together with Elizabeth.

13:11

Lesson 6. Back Block

"Borrow" a block from the front of your quilt for the reverse. You'll learn how to adjust fabric requirements to add blocks onto your quilt back.

20:16

Lesson 7. Super Scrappy

Use your odds and ends to make a scrappy quilt back in this improvisational lesson. Elizabeth demonstrates variations with large scraps or small.

"I am very impressed by this instructor. She gave very detailed explanations regarding calculating fabric yardage, starting [by] pinning the strips from the center and additional tips about making a design wall. I also like the note-taking feature which I was able to use as a reminder for myself." - Genetics

Lesson 2. Introduction

Lesson 3. Quilt Back Math

Figure out how best to stack and back your quilt in this comprehensive lesson. Elizabeth goes step by step through the math needed to calculate the correct yardage.

14:52

Lesson 4. Using Large-Scale Prints

Your quilt's back is the perfect place to show off large-scale prints to their best effect. Elizabeth helps you figure out how to calculate and assemble your back — and match prints for the wow factor.

18:15

Lesson 5. Adding a Pieced Strip

A pieced strip echoes the colors and design of the top and can be a lifesaver if you find yourself just a little short of backing fabric. Calculate the most pleasing combinations, size the pieces and stitch them together with Elizabeth.

13:11

Lesson 6. Back Block

"Borrow" a block from the front of your quilt for the reverse. You'll learn how to adjust fabric requirements to add blocks onto your quilt back.

20:16

Lesson 7. Super Scrappy

Use your odds and ends to make a scrappy quilt back in this improvisational lesson. Elizabeth demonstrates variations with large scraps or small.

The instructor

Elizabeth Hartman, Instructor of Creative Quilt Backs

Elizabeth Hartman is the author of the bestselling book, The Practical Guide to Patchwork, which won a 2011 Next Generation Indie Book Award. Her second book, Modern Patchwork, was released in May 2012. Elizabeth blogs about quilting at her blog, ohfransson.com, and is a board member of The Modern Quilt Guild.

Ratings & reviews

Class rating

(386 reviews)

my favorite craftsy instructor

by r.brown195030257 on February 24, 2015

i learned so much, even some things which surprised me, and i liked your precision and friendly teaching manner.

i learned so much, even some things which surprised me, and i liked your precision and friendly teaching manner.

Just what I needed

by JaspersMom on February 20, 2015

I love pieced quilt backs. Call me cheap but I do not like spending a ton of money for wide fabric and a boring quilt back and have frequently pieced backs. Now I know how to do it a whole lot better. I learned so much! The lessons are clear and the demonstrations just make sense!

I love pieced quilt backs. Call me cheap but I do not like spending a ton of money for wide fabric and a boring quilt back and have frequently pieced backs. Now I know how to do it a whole lot better. I learned so much! The lessons are clear and the demonstrations just make sense!

Getting Started

by The Little Owl Farm and Studio on February 19, 2015

The beginning and first lesson are super clear and perfectly paced.

The beginning and first lesson are super clear and perfectly paced.

Enjoyed The Class

by ida.jenki6984997 on February 14, 2015

This will help be creative with the backs

This will help be creative with the backs

Amazing Quilt Backs

by aovid5430197 on February 8, 2015

Very outstanding, I really like these creative quilt back ideas. It just demonstrates and inspires how beauty in the quilt backs. I really like this and the teacher is great. Thanks to Craftsy.

Very outstanding, I really like these creative quilt back ideas. It just demonstrates and inspires how beauty in the quilt backs. I really like this and the teacher is great. Thanks to Craftsy.